by Brooke Page
My mind hadn’t stopped reeling. I thought about him all night, reminiscing of our days at The Shore, getting goose bumps and shivers remembering how he played my body like a violin. He clouded my mind so terribly that I’d pulled out my vibrating friend that hadn’t been used in forever. It was a shock there weren’t cobwebs all over it.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my lunch and headed to work, not allowing myself to let Vance Everett consume my mind anymore.
When I pulled up to the arcade, I sat in my car with my eyes closed. How was I going to keep Vance off of my mind?
Especially when he would be in eye view, putting up a row of pavers around the new landscaping outside of the arcade counter window. He stood from his knees when I got out of my car. His hands were covered with gloves, his white shirt damp from sweat and jeans dirty from being on the ground. A black cloth was stuffed in his back pocket. Probably the same hat he was wearing yesterday. He looked sexy as hell, and avoiding him today might be harder. My emotions were all over the place about him. I should be more pissed, but when he smiled, I turned into the damn nineteen-year-old, love-struck, lost girl back at The Shore.
“Hey,” he greeted, throwing me a smile.
“Morning,” I mumbled. Pointing to the plethora of plants and bushes to be planted, I added, “Looks like you’ve been busy.”
He shrugged. “Got an early start.”
I gave him a nod and walked by him to the front entrance. He followed behind me. “I’m actually glad you’re here. I need a bathroom break.”
“You don’t have a key?”
He shook his head.
I opened the door, urging him to go in before me.
“Thanks.”
He breezed passed me, and his heady scent made my knees go weak. He should have smelled sweaty and disgusting by how much dirt was on his arms and clothes, but it was the opposite. He smelled delicious, a wonderful mix of sandalwood and fresh air, the kind that kissed your face while standing in front of the ocean.
All of my endorphins were going into overdrive. Holding my hand to my chest in hopes to slow my heart down, I went into the store room, tossing my purse in a cubby and grabbing my apron. I needed to get a grip.
“Do you mind if I take a water bottle out of the fridge?” Vance asked, startling me.
I swung my head in his direction. His arm was resting on the doorframe, his sea green eyes calm and collected. The dark knitted hat that was stuffed in his back pocket was on his head, and he looked like the sexiest bad boy I had ever seen.
“Yeah, let me get one for you.” I waited for him to move, but he didn’t budge. Holding my breath, I nudged past him, needing to keep his alluring scent out of my nostrils. When I was a safe distance in front of him, I took a breath, ducking down to the small cooler with waters and pops.
“Here you go.”
He gave me a grin. “Thanks.”
“I’ll put it on your tab.”
His smile grew wider. “You do that.”
Opening the bottle, he pressed it to his lips, taking big swallows. Jesus… who knew the sight of a man drinking water could be a turn on? I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
When he finished taking his long swigs, half the bottle was gone, and he screwed the cap back on. “Thanks. I’ll be outside if you need me.”
I put my hands in the pockets of my apron. “No problem.”
Fighting my eyes from perusing Vance’s back as he left was impossible. He had filled out more, his shoulders broader and hips wider. He was still lean, and I doubted he’d stopped running. His arms were only going to get bigger if he kept doing manual labor for Pete.
Doing my everyday tasks around the arcade took me twice as long. I was hyper aware of Vance, finding myself spying on him through the window, watching him head to and from the shed when he needed more supplies or to talk to Pete.
Even Bonnie noticed my wondering eyes when she came in about an hour after me. “He’s a good looking young man.”
“What?” She startled me, and I knocked over a bin of ring pops by the window. I cursed under my breath and began dumping them back into the canister.
Bonnie snickered, spinning in her stool and picking up her crocheted needle. She made pot holders and washcloths to sell at craft shows and the local flee market on Saturdays. Her glasses fell on her pointed nose, her brown eyes lifting from looking at the yarn. “That Everett boy. You’ve been keeping an eye on him.”
“No, I’m only not used to someone working outside of the arcade. I keep thinking it’s a costumer about to walk inside.”
“Sure,” she smiled. “If I were your age, I’d be out there offering him glasses of water on the half hour.”
“He can come get it himself,” I huffed, picking up a ring pop that managed to slide to the edge of the countertop.
“He’s single you know,” she prodded, continuing to crochet.
“So?” I never understood why she was always trying to fix me up with someone. I had been married to her nephew that she raised since he was ten. You’d think she wouldn’t like the idea of me dating someone new.
“What do you mean, so? Honey, I may be old, but I can read body language. You’ve been looking at that man like he’s a piece of meat all day.”
“I have not!” I slipped through the opening of the U-shaped counter, grabbing a wash rag. Sure, I’d already cleaned every surface of each arcade game, but I was avoiding the conversation.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
By mid-afternoon, Pete came into the arcade with Vance through the back entrance by the pool tables.
Vance smiled in my direction. “Lauren was kind enough to let me in to use the restroom this morning.”
“She’s a peach. We love our girl, Lauren.” Pete slapped him on the back. “I’ll get you your own set of keys by the end of the week.”
“I knew I forgot something,” Bonnie sighed. “I hope you’re happy with the house?”
“It’s perfect. Thank you, and thanks for loading up the refrigerator. I appreciate it.”
Bonnie waved a hand at Vance as if it were no big deal. “Thought I’d get you started is all.”
“We want to make sure you’ll stick around, I know this work can be laboring,” Pete added, coming over to his wife and putting an arm around her. “Hell, I thought you might quit after hauling all of those pavers and yard waste around the property yesterday.”
Vance shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t mind it. It’s nice working outside.”
Pete had the biggest grin I had ever seen on his face. “That’s great! Why don’t you go take a lunch break? I’ll see you in an hour, then we can discuss what I’ve been pondering doing in the back lot. Maybe we can bounce a few ideas off each other.”
“Sounds great, Pete. I’ll see you in an hour,” Vance, Bonnie, and I watched Pete leave through the back door.
“Pete’s never that happy. He must be pleased with you,” Bonnie beamed.
I crossed my arms and leaned back against the counter. Vance was on the other side, bending forward and resting both of his arms on the glass top facing me.
“Guess that’s good job security,” he chuckled. His gaze passed from Bonnie to mine, his smile never fading. “Do you get to take a lunch?”
“I normally eat and work.”
Vance paused, waiting for me to say more, but my lips were locked. “I’ll be on the back patio if you need me.”
“Enjoy your break. Take a pop with you.” Bonnie got off of her stool and reached into the small cooler for a can and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” He turned and went out the back door.
“Why don’t you go take a break? Give Vance some company?” Bonnie offered. “You and I both know those blasted teenagers don’t come in until two, skipping their last class to spend quarters on these video games.”
I opened my mouth to say no, but the words never came out.
“Go,” she encouraged. “He’s a nice boy. Not sure what he’s d
oing around here, but a little friendliness goes a long way.”
Letting out a breath, I gave her a nod. Only if she knew how friendly Vance and I had been in the past. “All right. Just a quick one.”
My hands shook when I went to grab my lunch, my body tense when I found the back door, glancing through the window where Vance was sitting. He still had the knitted hat covering his head.
“Go, Lauren!” Bonnie shouted from the other side of the room. I rolled my eyes when she couldn’t see me, then headed out the back.
Vance turned from the creak of the door. “I’ll need to put some oil on the hinges of the doors after I eat.” He smiled and went back to eating his lunch.
“You gonna join me?” he asked without looking.
I rubbed my arms, wishing I had kept my sweatshirt on. Thankfully, the picnic tables were in the sun. Without responding, I took a seat across from him at the table.
It was awkward as hell, but Vance didn’t seem fazed. He was so much more smiley than the Vance I knew from before. He wasn’t as uptight either, but he was focused. The intensity was there in his eyes, waiting on my every move.
I cleared my throat. “Bonnie thought I should.”
He held his grin. “Does that mean you’re out here against your will?”
I paused from pulling out a container of leftover pasta salad. “It means it wasn’t my idea.”
He nodded. “Fair enough.”
Continuing with my food, I put a piece of noodle in my mouth, chewing it slowly and with caution as if I were on a first date. Why was I so damn nervous? I was fighting my emotions for him, that was obvious, but it had been seven years. The butterflies should have died out by now.
“Have you worked here a long time? I mean, I’m assuming this is the same place you worked at back when we met, but have you been here ever since?” He wanted to make small talk. I guess that was better than the painful silence.
“Yep. Took some time off, but I’ve never been a stranger to Pete and Bonnie. They’ve been around ever since I can remember.”
“Marcy’s parents, right?”
“Yep.”
Silence passed between us. Could this be any more awkward? I shouldn’t have come out here. I should have made some excuse to Bonnie that I needed to go run an errand.
“So, how old is your daughter?”
Surprised he asked, or even noticed, I answered. “She’s six.”
“She ran up to me yesterday.”
My eyes found my lap, my appetite fading. “She thought you were someone else. She knows better than to talk to strangers.”
Vance’s jaw clenched. “That’s good. You can’t trust people these days. She was honest, too. Told me my landscaping needed work.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Tessa will tell you how it is. Not sure where she got that from. Sorry if she bothered you.”
“What, her Dad isn’t like that?”
My grin faded. Vance asking questions about Colby was too personal. “Not really.”
“She didn’t bother me. It gave me a break.” As if he sensed my change of mood, he dipped his head low, his eyes softening. “I know it’s none of my business, but, I noticed you don’t have a ring on.” He eyed my hand, staring at my fingers, then moved to my bracelet.
I tucked my hands into my lap under the table, cursing myself on the inside for not throwing out the leather bracelet years ago. “You’re observant.”
His eyebrows lifted. “When there’s something I want.”
My uneasiness turned into irritation. What did that mean? Was he flirting with me? “Well, as you said, it’s none of your business.”
He flinched at my bitter tone. “Right. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
I rubbed my face with the palm of my hand. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t like to talk about it.”
“You weren’t rude, it was a personal question.”
I bobbed my head from side to side. “Can’t argue that.”
Stabbing more noodles, I focused on eating. He picked up his phone and became engrossed with it while he ate. I did the same, settling into a normal, quiet lunch. The awkwardness was there, but when our eyes would meet, he’d smile, and my stomach would flutter.
Chapter Eight
Vance
After two weeks of cleaning up brush and planting new bushes and trees around the compound, my body was sore as if I had never lifted a finger in my life. It was a welcomed pain, but with all of the kitesurfing I’d done in my lifetime, I never thought I’d feel new muscles in my arms. Maybe it was my age showing, breaking into the 30’s and all.
I rose from my bed, thankful I didn’t have to go into the arcade, but at the same time, I was bummed because I wouldn’t see Lauren. We hadn’t had more than small talk, but it felt amazing to see her smile. We would spend our lunches together. Sometimes we’d talk about the ever-changing weather, or I’d ask questions about what to expect once summer came. I didn’t ask her anything personal, or mention the past, because I liked the fresh start.
Today, I needed to focus on the other reason why I’d landed in Harris. I had to find the hang outs of the men on Riley’s list. I hadn’t spoken to Jonah since the first night I arrived. I thought for sure he’d stop by again, but never showed, at least not when I was there. He hadn’t been hanging around with Lauren, either. I was thankful for that. I’d been worried they had been involved in some way, but I’d done a few drive-byes to Lauren’s in the evenings. It was all purely for work.
I decided to take a run up the road where Jonah had driven the other day.
Fog covered the pavement, and the cool mist of morning made me glad I’d put my hat and hooded sweatshirt on before taking off. My pace was faster than it should have been for going uphill, but I needed my legs to burn so the ache in my arms wouldn’t hurt as bad.
Checking my watch, I was three miles in, and all I had seen were trees. No other sign of activity besides wildlife. Frustrated I hadn’t seen more than a pair of deer and a plethora of trees, I turned back around, already going a mile farther than I normally would. I was a glutton for punishment. Six mile runs weren’t my normal distance.
I did find it odd that while on that run, an hour went by and zero cars had driven past me. I’d have to take a ride in my truck and investigate further down the road. For now, I needed a shower and breakfast, and a trip to the laundry mat wouldn’t hurt. Not having a washing machine sucked, but I wasn’t going to complain. Bonnie and Pete were kind enough to give me the place to stay. Even if the FBI was giving them money for letting an undercover agent stay on their property. I’m sure they gave Pete little information then threatened him, demanding he sign non-disclosure act regarding why he had to hire me.
The FBI worked in mysterious ways.
Driving through town was new. I’d been in all kinds of cities during my undercover work, and I hadn’t come across a town like Harris. It was small, and years behind other cities. Thrift stores were the place to shop for clothing, and mom and pop restaurants were popular. It was low key, and I could see why Lauren felt suffocated and escaped to The Shore seven years ago.
Since my internet was spotty at the cabin, I spent a few hours at the library, sorting out articles and all the information I had gathered. I’d met with most of the small shop owners, while running errands for Pete. They seemed harmless. I’d spend all of the time here I’d need to in order to win Lauren back.
Grabbing a sandwich from a café near the library, I ate in my car on the way to the laundry mat, leery of what it would entail. Finishing my sandwich, I took the basket of dirty clothes and headed inside, pleasantly surprised with how clean it was, and for a Saturday afternoon, it wasn’t very busy at all. In fact, fate must have been on my side, because a familiar little blonde was playing in the designated kids’ area, while the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on moved a pile of wet clothing from one washing machine to a dryer.
My heart tugged me toward them, finding a machine ac
ross from her. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, strands falling and framing her face. She wasn’t dressed up, but wearing black workout pants and a white, flowy t-shirt.
“Hey, stranger.”
She turned from stuffing sheets into another dryer, jolting back against the machine when she saw me. “Holy shit,” she muffled under her breath, holding her hand to her chest. “What are you doing here?”
I held up my laundry basket. “Turns out doing work outside makes your clothing dirty.”
She took a deep breath and closed the dryer. “I’m impressed. “You don’t normally see men here that often.”
“What? Do men not wash their clothing around here?”
She shrugged. “Grease and dirt-stained jeans seem to be in style.”
I tossed half of the clothing into a washing machine. “Keyword is stained. They can still be cleaned.”
Tessa left her stack of Legos and came over to hide behind Lauren’s leg.
I smiled at her. “You helping your mom this morning?”
She nodded. “Our washing machine is broken.”
“That stinks. I don’t have one. Lucky for me it looks like they have a lot of fun things to do around here while I wait.”
She giggled, and Lauren looked down at her, a smile on her face.
“Do you like to play games?” I asked Tessa, pointing to an old pinball machine.
“Grandma lets me play at Mommy’s work.”
I dumped laundry detergent into the machines and started them, then walked over to her. I smiled at Lauren, then crouched down to Tessa’s level. She wasn’t hiding like before, but kept an arm around Lauren’s leg.
“If it’s okay with your mom, would you want to play some pinball with me?”
She looked up to Lauren, those big blue eyes asking for permission without saying a word.
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
Tessa’s mouth broke out into a huge smile. Letting go of Lauren’s leg, she bolted toward the machine.